Supremacy. A word often hissed through Scottish tongues when regurgitating the poison that pervades the history of this fixture.
The English, they say, thought they were above the Scots. As England should discover on Tuesday night, such sentiment belongs in the past. This is Nations League A versus Nations League B, and it is the hosts who reside in the top tier.
At kick-off, Scotland will - ’as it stands’ - become the first nation qualified for next summer’s European Championship. That has nothing to do with events here in Glasgow, but a draw in Oslo between Norway and Georgia would guarantee their passage to the finals in Germany.
Only Portugal have a better record in qualifying, but they are in a bloated group with the likes of Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. Scotland have beaten Spain and Norway and, in five victorious matches, have conceded only once to Erling Haaland. That is forgivable.
Their last 11 group-stage qualifiers have been Ws, and that should be a Worry for any Englishman who believes they are striding north of the border as Goliath. Forget throwing stones, David is ready to bloody your nose with a football.
Scotland are the national side with a club-team identity. While England’s talent pool runs as deep as Loch Ness, Steve Clarke’s mentality monsters will be lying in wait for them at Hampden Park. His players will run through brick walls and are steadily building one of their own at the back. It is nearly two years since they last conceded more than one goal in a competitive game, and they were the only team to keep out England at Euro 2020.
That is not to say their success is reliant solely on what feels like the stereotypes of hard work, spirit and determination. Yes, those are the foundations Clarke has
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